Our History Video Series
In 2021, we launched our history video series called Our History. The videos take you behind the scenes of Burnside’s rich heritage. The first series covers a wide variety of topics, including Kaurna history, the history of our oldest trees, The Regal Theatre and much more. We hope you enjoy these trips back in time with us.
Glen Osmond became the birth-place of Australia’s mining history when two Cornish miners discovered silver-lead ore at Mt Osmond in 1841. Three mines were quickly established in the area: Wheal Gawler (1841), Glen Osmond Mines (1842) and Wheal Watkins (1843).
Designed in 1938 by Edward Murray Seymour, the Burnside crest reflects our city's tradition and heritage. Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux explains the elements and history of our City crest.
This first episode, hosted by Dr Susan Marsden, will take you back to the Historic Village of Burnside which was established in the 1830s.
Episode 2 covers several historic businesses within Burnside, released as 5 'mini-episodes', This first mini-episode, hosted by Mayor of Burnside Anne Monceaux, covers the history of the iconic Penfolds winery which was founded in Magill in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and Mary Penfold.
This 'mini-episode' of Our History Episode 2 goes behind the scenes of Magill Grain Store. The store was built circa 1920 for James Kermode and was purchased in 1957 by Martin Wallis, whose son and grandson still run the store to this day.
This 'mini-episode' of Our History Episode 2 goes behind the scenes of Heyne's Garden Centre, which was established in 1869 by Ernst Heyne and is still operated by the Heyne family today.
This 'mini-episode' of Our History Episode 2 covers the history of Bennetts Magill Pottery. The business was established in 1887 by Charles William Bennett and is now operated by John Bennett, the fifth generation of Bennetts to run the business.
This is the penultimate 'mini-episode' of Episode 2, which explores the history of Hines Hardware. Hines Hardware was established in the late 1960s by Des Hines and purchased by Guido and Claudio Spina in 1988, who still run the store over 30 years later.
Hazelwood Park has a rich history and is one of our major reserves, featuring a wide variety of wildlife and native trees as well several popular community facilities including the George Bolton Swimming Centre Burnside and the Wombat Waterhole playground.
Beaumont House is currently the state office for the National Trust of South Australia and was built in 1849 for the first Anglican bishop of Adelaide Augustus Short. It was later inhabited by Sir Samuel Davenport, who developed the olive oil industry within South Australia.
This is part two of Episode 4 of Our History, which goes behind the scenes of Beaumont House's stunning gardens. These gardens were once home to thousands of olive trees, which were planted by Sir Samuel Davenport as he developed South Australia's olive oil industry.
This episode of Our History celebrates the Burnside Library, which opened on 8 April 1961 and has flourished ever since. Join us as we catch up with staff who have seen the library transform over years and decades as a much loved community centre.
This episode of Our History delves into the past of some of Burnside's oldest trees, both public and residential. Trees are an integral part of the City of Burnside and provide many benefits, from cooling the urban environment to providing habitat for wildlife. Find out all about it in this episode!
At almost 100 years of age, The Regal Theatre is a much loved space within the City of Burnside. Having changed hands (and names!) many times over the decades, the theatre is now owned and operated by Council, where we continue to host regular movie screenings, concerts, Adelaide Fringe shows, citizenship ceremonies and much more. Find out more about what we have on show at www.theregaltheatre.com.au
The Grange Cottage, located on the Penfolds Magill Estate, was the home of Mary and Christopher Penfold from 1844 and still exists to this day. Normally only accessible by tour, in this episode you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at this historic home and find out more about its special place in Burnside's history.
At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the last guns fell silent on the Western Front. By the end of the First World War over 60,000 Australians had died, including dozens from the Burnside District. In 1919, the Avenues of Honour in Rose Park were established, with the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial later installed in 192 in memory of the fallen. In this special episode of Our History we delve into the poignant history of the Avenues of Honour along Alexandra Avenue and Prescott Terrace, and explore the future of this ongoing living memorial. Lest44 we forget.
Long before the arrival of Europeans in the Burnside region, the Adelaide Plains and Mount Lofty Ranges were occupied by the Kaurna Miyurna (Kaurna People), who remain the Traditional Owners of the land to this day. Kaurna territory extends from Cape Jervis at the bottom of the Fleurieu Peninsula to Port Wakefield on the eastern shore of Gulf St Vincent. In this edition of Our History, Southern Cultural Immersion Cultural Director Tobias Turner takes us on a journey through Michael Perry Botanic Reserve, a location of significance for the Kaurna people along Second Creek.
Olive trees were first brought to South Australia in the 1830s aboard the HMS Buffalo with Sir John Hindmarsh, the first Governor of South Australia. The plant was well suited to the warm South Australian climate and the Burnside region soon became one of the biggest producers of olives and olive oil. In this edition of Our History, local historian Dr Susan Marsden takes us on a journey throughout the historical olive groves of Burnside, tracing the living history that we can still see around us today.
The State Heritage listed Magill Stone Mine Reserve is one of many reserves maintained by the City of Burnside, and is notable for being one of the few locations to have seen underground stone mining within South Austalia during the 1800s. Following the mine's closure, the land became an olive plantation in the late 1800s, inspiring the future works of local artist Dorrit Black in the 1940s. In this edition of Our History, local historian Colin Harris takes us on a journey through the Magill Stone Mine Reserve, unveiling many of its secrets that remain visible to this day.